Coalition Against Fur Farms is posting an article which reveals the importance of vaccines to the survival of the US fur industry. This article appears to reference the mink vaccine manufactured by Merck (see previous articles on this site). CAFF is intent on unveiling the complete vaccine supplier facet of the fur farm industry. For some context, please see this week’s other posts on United Vaccines and Merck’s research facility outside Omaha, Nebraska. This is the article, from Sandy Parker Reports, SEPT. 19, 2011: “A VACCINE SHORTAGE IS PUTTING MINK AT RISK ON SOME NORTH AMERICAN RANCHES BECAUSE OF PRODUCTION PROBLEMS AT THE CONTINENT’S ONLY SUPPLIER. The vaccine is a protection against such diseases as distemper, virus enteritis, botulism and bacterial pneumonia and usually administered before the mink are 10 weeks old, while they are more easily handled. The source, believed to be a subsidiary of Merck, has had to delay delivery because some batches have not tested out. It was estimated that nearly all U.S. ranches got their supplies, but only about 80% of the Canadian farms received...

Coalition Against Fur Farms is seeking information on Kropf Feed, near Eugene, Oregon. We have obtained information indicating this is a business that supplies the fur industry (probably with mink feed). This is the address: Kropf Feed 815 S 2ND ST Harrisburg OR 97446 If you have any information about the role Kropf Feed plays in the fur industry, please submit to whistleblower [at]...

Coalition Against Fur Farms has received information on a previously unknown mink feed supplier, Alpine Clean Food. It is believed this company is the in-house mink feed manufacturer for the massive Moyle Mink company, which spans at least four mink farms in Idaho Perhaps the largest of the Moyle farms is visible directly on I-84 in Heyburn, located on the same property as Alpine Clean Food. The address is listed as: Alpine Clean Food Inc 374 S 600 W. Heyburn,...

It was never clear that mink vaccine manufacturer United Vaccines was out of business, though they have been quiet for some time and one old location is apparently now a car dealership. However recently, United Vaccines announced they are promising a “re-introduction of products for the North American market is planned for Spring 2012.” Please see previous posts for more on United Vaccines, including information on a Verona, WI...

Information on mink vaccines so crucial to the survival of the US mink industry keep coming in… Not too long ago, Sandy Parker Reports mentioned a vaccine shortage was impacting US mink farmers (whose primary fear is a disease outbreak that can wipe out whole farms in a matter of weeks). Coalition Against Fur Farms is piecing together the vaccine puzzle, narrowing in on the two sole providers of mink vaccines and where their research is done. First, read this comment from the Fur Commission USA’s president Michael Whelan in the Winter 2011 issue of Fur Farm Letter: “In January I hope to join John Easley in Elkhorn NE to meet with the ASL vaccine producers…” ASL is believed to stand for American Scientific Laboratories, a company that was acquired by Schering-Plough Animal Health. Schering-Plough later merged with Merck. In August 2011 (www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/news/2011-08-26.aspx), Merck announced, “an expansion of a vaccine manufacturing unit at its Elkhorn Biotechnology Excellence Center.”...